Bryan Kohberger’s parents called to testify before Pennsylvania grand jury

The parents of accused killer Bryan Kohberger have been called to testify before a Pennsylvania grand jury in the case of a woman found dead a year after she disappeared.

The couple was asked to provide testimony in the case of 45-year-old Dana Smithers whose remains were found late last month after she went missing in May 2022, local outlet Eyewitness News WBRE/WYOU reported.

Smithers was last seen alive leaving a friend’s home in Monroe County — the same county Kohberger lived before moving across the country to pursue a doctorate degree at Washington State University.

However, a source close to the case said Kohberger has a solid alibi and is not believed to be linked to Smither’s death, according to the Pennsylvania outlet. Still the investigation is ongoing.

Smither’s remains were discovered in a wooded area in Stroudsburg on April 27 and dental records were used to identify the body. The county coroner had not determined a cause of death at that time.

Earlier this week, Kohberger appeared in court in Moscow, Idaho where he stands accused of stabbing four University of Idaho students to death as they slept in their off-campus home on Nov. 13, 2022.

The alleged killer stood silent when asked how he pleaded to a five-count indictment and a not guilty plea was therefore entered on his behalf to four counts of first-degree murder and one county of felony burglary.

Kohberger is accused of killing 21-year-olds Maddie Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves and 20-year-olds Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle.

Prosecutors have 60 days from Monday’s arraignment hearing to decide whether to seek the death penalty for the 28-year-old former criminology student.

The case is set to go to trial on Oct. 2. Kohberger remains behind bars in Latah County Jail.